The Sea of Peace
The question of what the world should call the Sea of Japan is an argument which continues to rage. In the heads of the South Korean government.
President Roh, continuing to show his ability to stick doggedly to a non-issue, has come up with a suggestion.
After raising objections to the name “Sea of Japan” because of the reference to Korea’s evil empire-building neighbour, Korea suggested that the world drop the name and adopt the name that has some currency in Korea, namely the East Sea. Despite the fact that name is only relevant to Korea, and risks causing some confusion, what with that ‘other’ East Sea, and all.
But in the papers this morning -
“It is true that Roh suggested South Korea and Japan give up their respective names for the disputed waters and find a new mutually satisfactory name during his latest summit with Abe,” Yonhap News Agency quoted the official as saying.
I love that. As if it’s a mutually intractable problem that he’s magnanimously giving ground on. So what were President Roh’s suggestions? The Sea of Peace was one. The Sea of Friendship was another.
Or perhaps, get this, we call it the Sea of Japan? As the rest of the world has been doing for hundreds of years? As that sea does after all exist because Japan exists. Otherwise it’d just be a bit of the Pacific Ocean.
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that in ancient china if you were REALLY fat that meant you were...
omg i feel so bad for a that monkey help it some one plzzzz
Again with the Koreans… I have nothing against the South K’s. I think they are fine and decent people.
Having said that, the sea is called The Sea of Japan because a long time ago, a huge peice of land broke off from asia and created a sea. That island is known as Japan! So it seems to make sense. If Japan wasn’t there, it would be the Pacific Ocean. Right?
Mister Roh, start governing your people and worry about what the hell the NORKS, your “brothers” are doing. I’m sure the hundreds of thousands of starving kids in South Korea wouldn’t give a damn what the sea is called… Focus on that first then maybe, when you’ve done something.. You can focus on this problem.
January 9th, 2007 at 12:36 pmbravo, overoften, bravo. I could not agree more with the sentiments expressed in this article. I too read that in the papers this morning and had a chuckle to myself. ‘The sea of friendship’ indeed.
January 9th, 2007 at 2:13 pm-”If Japan wasn’t there, it would be the Pacific Ocean. Right?” –alex p.
-”The Pacific Ocean (from the Latin name Mare Pacificum, “peaceful sea”, bestowed upon it by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan)” –wiki p.
-”So what were President Roh’s suggestions? The Sea of Peace was one.” –over o.
Ummm….What is Roh trying to say here…
January 9th, 2007 at 2:16 pmOther ideas:
The Sea of How About Putting Your Own Country Back Together Before You Start Decided What The Rest Of Us Call Bodies Of Water
January 9th, 2007 at 2:20 pmThe Kimchsea
The Sea of You Guys Are Such Dicks
East Sea? East of the Korean Peninsula, so it’s just as subjective.
Could Koreans be any more anal about Japan? I mean, it’s not their fault they’re always coming in second…the international code of South Korea is 82, Japan’s is 81. K comes right after J. People think Kimchee was invented in Japan. I mean, what’s the big deal?
^_^
January 9th, 2007 at 2:30 pmhaha mr wake.. u kill me. thats solid gold.
January 9th, 2007 at 2:38 pmThe ulterior motive becomes clear now, Mr Wake!
January 9th, 2007 at 2:38 pm[...] Overoften in Japundit points out that the name Sea of Japan has never been an issue in Japan and other countries: As if it’s a mutually intractable problem that he’s magnanimously giving ground on. So what were President Roh’s suggestions? Oiwan Lam [...]
January 9th, 2007 at 4:18 pmTo all concerned parties:
The Sea of Japan will henceforth be known as Jennifer. Please update your maps and other cartographic documents accordingly.
January 10th, 2007 at 8:41 amI kind of like Sea of Japundit.
January 10th, 2007 at 11:05 amWhat about the Sea of Me? I’m off for a swim!
January 10th, 2007 at 12:11 pmWhat about the sea of Jakoreapan?
January 10th, 2007 at 11:33 pmI kinda like ‘The Co-Propsperity Sphere Sea’… Oh wait, thats a bit too 1930’s imperial japan isnt it?
January 11th, 2007 at 12:58 amRemember Roh has less than a year to go so he will be gone soon. However, with the election coming up this year look for the leftist candidates to increase the anti-Japanese rhetoric this year even though it is hard to believe the anti-Japanese rhetoric could get any worse than is was last year.
January 11th, 2007 at 6:47 am